There's a lot of threads in this forum about underrated, unappreciated or overlooked artists. For my money, no artist in the last 20 years is more of those things than Fishbone. While easily being one of the top 5 best live acts over that time, they also put together a pretty strong catalog of ska, funk, soul, rock, reggae and punk music. I've seen them a half-dozen times and I can't honestly say there's any artist I've enjoyed seeing live more. Mostly it's the spontaneity of it. Seeing a Fishbone concert, you never know what you're going to get. In a neatly choreographed world, it's an invaluable trait.


Fishbone



In Your Face



Truth And Soul



The Reality Of My Surroundings



Give A Monkey A Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe


Chim Chim's Badass Revenge

There are others albums that followed, but for me this was the golden age of Fishbone and a mighty right place to start for those looking to check out some good music. The band is still touring and can be found here. Prince heads will recognize the name of current Fishbone guitarist Tori Ruffin as he's also a member of The Time.

I've championed Fishbone on here as long as I've been on here. Big fan. I used to go see them play all the time at The Whisky back in the 80's. Norwood and Angelo is off the hook. They've been Taking It To The Stage forever and still gigging. They paved the way bigtime for the Chilli Peppers.

Oh hell yes! SinP, where ya at?

I love black rockers! The energy of this band is amazing. Love Love LOVE them

Hey, I saw Fishbone in 1988 (showing my age) opening for The Beastie Boys. I had never heard of them but they STOLD THE SHOW. I saw them three times after that. The energy...WOW !!!!

live4luvandluvwillive4u

does anyone remember their collabo with curtis mayfield in 88' for "i'm gonna git you sucka"? i think it was called "fly guy", but i haven't been able to find it anywhere....

Oh my gosh!!! This is the one!!!!!

Yes Lawd!!!!



My Favorite Tracks :


So Many Millions

Fight The Youth

Lemon Meringue

Unyielding Conditioning

Let The Good Times Roll (with Tower of Power) [from "The Mask" soundtrack]

Pray To The Junkie Maker

Properties of Propaganda

Nutt Megalomaniac

Bonin'In The Boneyard

Cholly

The Goose

Change

Movement In The Light


...
[Edited 8/16/06 12:32pm]

FISHBONE IS THA S**T!!!!! PERIOD!!!!! Although only Angelo (vocals & sax) and Norwood (bass) remain, they STILL put down the funky rock & roll like NOBODY'Z BUSINESS!!!!! They're DEFINITELY one of my bands influences.....matter of fact we got to do a show w/Fishbone in West L.A. in 2004!!!! GREAT GUYS!!!!!

I love Fishbone and have seen them too many times to count in concert.

Although they sort of lost me after Give a Monkey a Brain.....

I first saw these guys on MTV with their video When Problems Arise
back in 87. OMG!!! It was hilarious and thoroughly entertaining!!!

I later saw them in concert at a S.F.venue in 89. Those guys were on fire!!!
There was so much energy on stage that I was out of breath
between songs.*whew!*

It's a shame they never got the attention or popularity that they deserve.
I was showing off their DVD Past to Present to a co-worker and his
response was, "Cool! I like Living Colour!"

bigwillpreacher said:

"They weren't the same after Prince left the group..."

True underground legends..My old band opened for F.B and King's X back in 03 and it was one of the greatest days of my life. Angelo is MAD cool!

Lyrically?
Norwood brought IT with "Lemon Meringue"
Classic Fishbone

Fish goes good with white wine, or so I have heard.

blackguitaristz said:

Man, they playin' tonight in Long Beach!

PFunkjazz said:

If I wasn't giggin' i'd consider that trip.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Do they still have the horn players?

theAudience said:

yeah , but it aint' Really Them
it's just a shell of what it once was...

Current lineup

theAudience said:

Where you giggin'?

I will run go out to LB, but I'm beat from work. Part of me wants to stay home, get stoned and fall asleep on the couch.

They were supposed to be releasing another live dvd.They are also supposedly working on a new cd. Get all of the studio albums,get the reality of my surroundings videos dvd,get the live cd live at the temple bar,get the live in amsterdam cd/dvd,get the henhouse sessions dvd,get baked,and get stoked!!

The minted version of the band ,from way back,is incredible. People crap on the latter versions,but I love every version of the band. Norwood and Angelo still bring the magic.

Watching the dvd kinda' saddens me ,though. They spend time talking to the band and Angelo is still a charming figure,but he looks tired. Life has been smacking him around quite a while. So strange that they were so blessed with talent and so mistreated. On some of that footage,I'm scared Angelo's lungs will burst from his singing. The guy simply IS Fishbone and he makes a statement everytime he performs.He and Norwood believe and they know that if you take the time,you will,too.

I'd heard of them but I never saw them perform until they appeared on Magic Johnson's old show "The Magic Hour". They did a song called "Shattered" Afterwards Magic and his co-host Tommy Davidson mocked them by copying the way they danced.

rockwilder said:

I certainly "don't crap on the latter versions", but man, there was nothing like Angelo, Norwood, Dirty Walt, Kendall, Chris and Fish. I remember the first time I saw them. '85 at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis. I went in as a casual fan and came out a believer. But going in, I had no idea what they were gonna' bring. No fuckin' idea....

FalseSetto said:

I love that song.

I just remembered that I had the biggest crush on Angelo as a teenager.

Great band! Everyday Sunshine They've been in Finland several times but I haven't been able to go
[Edited 9/5/06 6:36am]

i love 'truth and soul' but i hate their homophobia.

Anx said:

I remember you saying you got rid of all your Fishbone records after that began turning up in their lyrics.

Anx said:

I hear ya'. They actually seem quite conflicted where the issue of homosexuality is concerned. I've heard them sing some fucked up shit. Then they'll have songs like 'Servitude' where they criticize those who "hate people just 'cause they're gay". I'd like to think it was a path to enlightenment since all of the homophobic stuff I'm aware of happened prior to this recording.

Yes they still have horn players, and you can get the 12 inch record of "Flyguy" with Curtis Mayfield at a used record store for about $5 but it is hard to find. They made a small cameo in that movie "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" and it is pretty funny. They are also in Tapeheads with John Cusack and Tim Robbins. People crap on the current version because Kendal Jones was their main songwriter and him leaving was like Roger Waters leaving Pink Floyd. After he left, Angelo just turned a bunch of his poetry into songs which was far from the original band's stuff. Then Chris left, then Fish and now Dirty Walt. So even though Angelo and Norwood are still there, it is more like Fishbone light.....same great taste but less filling. Kind of sad too. I mean, the other night when I saw them they were unloading their own equipment and setting up their own instruments after arriving in a cargo van. But the good side of that is you can just walk right up to both Angelo and Norwood and they are still great humble guys. And still play their asses off! They will be closing CBGB's on its final night in NYC!!
[Edited 9/5/06 10:06am]